Weather

When to go and weather

A visit to the Galapagos over the holidays during the warm season is an experience to be talked about for years to come. December and January mark the beginning of the warm season throughout the archipelago. Sunny skies and calm waters are interrupted by afternoon showers that liven up the landscape and bring warm currents and wildlife to the turquoise waters. The warm season continues on until April.

May and June normally are months of transition from the warm season to the cool season. Remember, the Galapagos Islands cross the equator. Weather that may be cool to locals might be very refreshing to those who are experiencing the summer heat at home. During the cool season it is normally sunny during mid day. We may experience some occasional cloud cover in the late afternoon and evening. In November, the Galapagos Islands normally transition into the warm season.

When is the best time to visit the Galapagos?

The Galapagos is a place that can be visited at any time. There are two seasons, the warmest is between December to May when the sky is always clear and the sun shines strongly. If you love to dive, the best time to visit is between December to May because the temperatures are a bit warmer. If you don’t mind cooler water June to November is a great time to observe much of the famous Galapagos marine life.

Galapagos Cool Season

From June to December the southern trade winds bring the colder Humboldt Current north to the Galapagos. This means that the water is cooler, and a layer of high atmosphere mist pervades the island skies.

In effect, the highlands of the larger islands are kept green and lush while the sea level islands and shorelines have little precipitation. Thus, June to December is generally called the “dry season” which is known for its blue skies and light misty showers.

During this season the tourists may observe a large number of species around the islands and in the sea such as giant tortoises, humpback whales, blue-footed boobies, cormorants, oyster catchers, lava lizards, Galapagos hawks, masked boobies, swallow-tailed gulls, sea lions, lava herons, brown noddies, and penguins.

Galapagos Warm Season

The time period between December and May is considered the “warm season.” During this warmer season, the Galapagos’ climate is more tropical with occasional tropical showers. Also, the ocean temperature is warmer for swimming and snorkeling.

During this season the tourists may observe a large number of species around the islands such as marine iguanas, sea turtle, land iguanas, flamingos, white-cheeked pintails, masked boobies, marine iguanas, albatross, and blue-footed boobies. Since the water’s warmer, snorkeling is highly recommended during these months.

The Humboldt Current’s influence brings cold waters especially during the misty, rainy season (cool weather) from July to December. “El Niño” current may bring warm waters to the Galapagos and will make the surface warmer and rainfall increase (January to June).

The water temperature varies during the year

January to June: from 70°F (21°C) to 80°F (27°C)
July to December: from 65°F (18°C) to 75°F (23°C)